Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine, except for Aurora, Granite and Serpentine, and the weapons I gave to Orion, plus her name. But the character itself remains Marvel's. Plot is mine though.

Throughout story: " " = Speech ' ' = Thoughts ^ ^ = Telepath

Again, you've reviewed Blix! Thank you!! (:

Chapter 23

The music was stopped abruptly and the noise of murmuring from the crowd continued loudly. Logan dropped the microphone back into it's stand, looking to the side of the stage were Charles' was sat, watching Logan with a blank expression, "Where did you last see her?" He asked, rolling across the stage towards him.

"Professor!" Cried Scott, leaning forward and gesturing to Logan, "Don't believe a thing he says! He reeks of beer, the filth!"

Logan growled, grabbing Scott by his collar, "Wanna make something of it?"

"Yeah!"

"Oh yeah?"

"Go on then!"

The crowd of students were watching in silence, all eyes upon the developing fight.

"Excuse me!" Said the Professor loudly, glaring at the pair, "This is not the time nor the place to sort out your differences." He looked to Logan, "Where did you last see her?" He repeated.

Logan growled at Scott, tilting his neck, the adamantium bones clicking shrilly. He looked down to Charles, "End of the school grounds."

"What happened?" Said Charles urgently.

Logan looked across to Scott then back to Charles, "Helicopter came." A hum of gasps came from the crowd of students, "Dragged in her in then flew off to the North."

Charles' head bowed as he went into thought over Logan's words. During this period Storm ran onto the stage and grabbed the microphone, telling students to make their ways to their dormitories.

Soon, the hall was empty, only the X-Men stood around the stage. Logan dropped and sat on the edge, his legs hanging over the decorated banner that proclaimed 'Merry Christmas!'

Scott was pacing slightly, speaking random comments before flashing the back of Logan's head a glare.

Charles wheeled over to Logan, stopping beside him, "What did this helicopter look like?" He said gently, looking down to him.

Logan's head lifted, his expression serious and solemn, "Couldn't tell. Too dark y'know."

From behind them, Scott let out a scoff of indignation. Logan growled gently, continuing to speak, looking to Scott, "However, I can tell you that it wasn't the Brotherhood, that's for sure. It was humans."

Storm looked up, brow raising, "Humans? Why would they want Rogue?"

"I feel they didn't want Rogue in particular. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time." Sighed Charles, his head shaking gently, "I'll have to use Cerebro to find her."

Just then, the wooden doors of the Main Hall creaked open gently, and in entered Aurora, she was hastily brushing snow off her as she made her way over to the X-Men, "I overheard you.." She said softly, coming to a pause in the middle of the hall, "I think I can help."

"Woah! Wait, come on! You're not even an X-Man!" Cried Scott, waving his arms at Aurora.

"That doesn't matter." Said Charles firmly to Scott, then looking across to Aurora, "How can you help us Louisa?"

Aurora stood there, her hands wringing softly, the disco lights still flickered over the dance floor and illuminated the melting snow upon her, "I saw the helicopter." She then gestured to Logan with a nod of her head, "He's right, it was humans. It was the Government. One of the candidates. Their logo was on the side of the helicopter."

Logan's head lifted, he watched her scrutinizingly as his mind travelled over the paw prints he saw in the snow.

"And how do you know this?" Barked Scott, who was still being dominated by layers of tinsel.

Aurora blinked and parted her mouth to speak, "I .. I was outside."

"In this weather?" He continued.

She nodded gently. Logan slid from the stage, walking over to her, as he did, Storm spoke up, "Then I think we should check with Cerebro, and then head up to Washington Professor."

Charles' nodded, wheeling off the stage ramp and heading out of the Main Hall, "Wait here. I'll be back." As the doors shut heavily, Logan had come to a pause beside Aurora, his head leaned to hers and he spoke softly, "Outside?" She nodded in response. "Right.." He continued, still watching her carefully, "Thought so." He said softly, straightening from her.

"What does that mean?" She asked, turning to him as he walked across to dance floor to the large windows of the hall, he stopped there, looking out at the snow littered skies. He smirked, looking over his shoulder, "It means, I saw you."